Ikea will break ground for its Merriam store on July 9

The 359,000-square-foot store, Ikea’s first in the Kansas City area and 40th in the United States, is scheduled to open in fall 2014 on 19 acres near the intersection of Interstate 35 and Johnson Drive. Site preparation work has been underway for several weeks.

Ikea, a Swedish home furnishings retailer, will officially break ground for its Merriam store on July 9.

The 359,000-square-foot store, Ikea’s first in the Kansas City area and 40th in the United States, is scheduled to open in fall 2014 on 19 acres near the intersection of Interstate 35 and Johnson Drive. Site preparation work has been underway for several weeks.

The store is expected to employ about 300 workers.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is among the government officials and civic leaders scheduled to attend the groundbreaking.